Why Is The Focus A Rare Sight On Thai Roads.

[nidge]

As for the guy that couldn't negotiate a manual car thru Brighton Where did you get your driving licence ? Thailand.. What you need is clutch control, coordination and some spatial awareness.. Maybe you'd be better of walking ?

Didn't say i couldn't do it, but it was a pain in the ar5e. I was trying to demonstrate that people chose auto cars for their ease rather than because they are HiSo or the driver was lazy as one poster put it.

[dotcom]

You can find Civic Type R (CBU) - just look in the magazines.

Ford Focus. Krappy Korean made car? Maybe that's why.

Whare is Holden? Vauxhall? Opel? Renault? Peugot? It's a mass market & ford don't have any mass.

Ditto Chevrolet.

Even during these days of sky high gasoline prices you don't see many Suzukis.

Mazda do make a cool mini car. It is SMALLLLLL.

[Plus]

You can find Civic Type R (CBU) - just look in the magazines.

"CBU" means local production. There's none for Type R.

Local Honda sometimes slap Type R badges on their regular Civics with some superficial extras like different wheels or aero parts, they did with previous model, for example, doesn't make it Type R. It still has only 130 hp or so.

Turbo Vios iwas four five years ago - they just had a limited run of a hundred cars. Reportedly not all have been sold.

[dotcom]

Plus. CBU means Completely Built Up.

So like Porsche 911 Turbo or Ferrari the car is imported.

[Plus]

Sorry, confused with CKD - Completely Knocked Down - assembled here.

If you mean independently imported Civics - who cares? They have nothing to do with Honda Thailand, anyone can import a car.

[dotcom]

I would care if I wanted a high performance car like a Mitsubshi EVO - RX-8 - that type of thing.

[Plus]

Then you must pay all the import and excise taxes. MitsubishiMazda are not going to build them here just so that a dozen of enthusiasts would geit their tax breaks.

With Civic Type R all they needed is a 100 sales per month in a country of 65 million, and with no competition - still impossible.

I guess Honda fans can only talk but they won't put the money where their mouths are. It seems that fake mugen stickers and a public discussion board is all they really need.

[dotcom]

I just live a few blocks from Troops Service.

He builds some of the baddest cars in town.

He puts the 3.0 Liter Toyota Twin Turbo in line 6 into

Volvos

Merc

BMW

Ciefero & lots of other models. He is mostly into Turbos & intercoolers.

No one thinks front wheel drive is worth a krap for a high performance car. Certainly I don't.

Subaru - yes.

[Bangyai]

Ehh.. you can drive perfectly safely and efficiently with just two arms and legs. Manuals are more fun than autos on the open road if you like driving.

Two other considerations make manual transmissions an attractive proposition. They are generally more economical than autos and if you accidently drain the battery by leaving the lights on, you at least have the option of push starting. Finaly, if you unfortunate enough to break down in the middle of nowhere it is easier to tow a manual. I am convinced that most Thais go for auto's because they think they have more face value.

[madjbs]

^ I don't think so, I think most people go for auto because manuals are harder to learn in and Thailand is not a good country for learning in to start with.

[dotcom]

15 years ago slushboxes didn't exist in LoS. I found it quite humorus coming from USA where 99% were autos.

I still love it when the Thais shift into park at a stop light. It's way cool when those back up lights come on.

But hel_l yeah now girls can drive too.

Auto gearboxes (transmissions we call em) sukk.

[t.s]

But as usual the largest capacity version on comes with an auto gerbox.. It has sporting pretentions, spoiler, alloy wheels etc but a crappy slush box cos Thais are either too lazy to change gear or think an auto is 'HiSo'

My Focus has an auto gearbox and it's great. There is an option on the gear shift to change gear manually but for me it's pointless.

I was in the UK last month and i wanted to hire an automatic car but it was more than double the price of a manual so i ended up with a manual one. I was driving in Brighton which has many steep narrow streets. Exiting a steep uphill narrow road onto a main road was a nightmare. You need one hand on the handbrake, another on the wheel and a third to change gear. A foot on the clutch another on the brake and a third on the accelerator. If i was in my own car i would have 2 hands on the wheel and only need one foot. Is that lazy or HiSo? No, it's efficient and safe. Unless you are planning on racing and getting every last ounce of acceleration out of your car there is no reason not to use an automatic gearbox.

unless you can actually drive a manual and enjoy the extra control.

[Gary A]

But as usual the largest capacity version on comes with an auto gerbox.. It has sporting pretentions, spoiler, alloy wheels etc but a crappy slush box cos Thais are either too lazy to change gear or think an auto is 'HiSo'

My Focus has an auto gearbox and it's great. There is an option on the gear shift to change gear manually but for me it's pointless.

I was in the UK last month and i wanted to hire an automatic car but it was more than double the price of a manual so i ended up with a manual one. I was driving in Brighton which has many steep narrow streets. Exiting a steep uphill narrow road onto a main road was a nightmare. You need one hand on the handbrake, another on the wheel and a third to change gear. A foot on the clutch another on the brake and a third on the accelerator. If i was in my own car i would have 2 hands on the wheel and only need one foot. Is that lazy or HiSo? No, it's efficient and safe. Unless you are planning on racing and getting every last ounce of acceleration out of your car there is no reason not to use an automatic gearbox.

unless you can actually drive a manual and enjoy the extra control.

I bought the automatic for my wife but I insisted that she learn with a manual. She now prefers to drive my manual transmission pickup. The Focus has a manual selection that works pretty good and is handy in the mountains but a manual would still be better.

[North]

The Mrs explanation as to why the Ford Focus seems to be a rare sight on Thai roads, is that it is 'kee mah' [dog <deleted>]

I'm not saying that we have a 'lemon,' but she is no longer at ease when driving. And frankly I don't blame her.

She does 95% of the driving and uses the vehicle every week day for her office.

So I will be conceding to her wishes and we will dob the car in, in the near future. To be replaced by a Jap car.

Of course everything started off well, when over a year ago we replaced our Lancer with a new sedan 1.8 auto.

Having owned Fords back in the UK, I eventually persuaded her to go over to Ford rather than get another Jap car.

At first we liked the good drivability of the car, with especially good road holding in the wet.

A stream of minor faults didn't bug us, but eventually niggled us, like intermitant function of reverse warning bleeper/ rear window switch non working/ faulty bonnet lock and so on. Of course all faults were rectified eventually, but when one was fixed, something else would turn up.

And sometimes it was more serious; Rapid tire wear on left rear,[wheel alighnment not correct] We got a free tire out of that one. Loud clicking noise when turning at walking speed.[new steering parts fitted.] As a matter of interest Ford already knew about these potentional faults. And last but not least, power steering failure.

For you 'few' Focus owners out there, do you know that to check levels or top up the ps res. you have to remove the offside headlight first? It's hiding underneath,[but not on the 1.6]......nutty design.

We naturally compare our car with our taxi driver friends Mitsubishi, which he bought a few weeks before ours arrived.

There has not been the slightest fault with it and his weekly km is a lot higher than ours.

Goodbye Focus. It's not been nice to know you.

I am utteley amazed by this post. I have had a Ford focus for around 9 months and i have not had a single problem with it. I am more than happy with the performance, road handling and fuel consumption and i think that it was a good buy at a good price. I have also seen many Ford Focus's around Bangkok.

maybe you got a Monday morning car??

Cheers, Rick

Rick, you are not the only one amazed, I have the same experience as you, I bought my Focus in january, and there has been no problems at all, it is a very good car.

North

Ford's got a bit of a reputation they never care to improve.

GM, on the other hand, sticks with proven brand names like Chevrolet. No way they'd try to sell Opel here, but they can put Chevy nameplate on Korean shitturds like Aveo and no one would bat an eye.

This is Thailand, it's all about perception, and Ford is not doing its homework.

Plus, I will agree with you on this, I think the Focus is a very good car, but in my opinion Ford Thailand is doing a sloppy job marketing Ford in Thailand, I think they need a new management !

North

When Ford engineers start working on a job they are always told to make it (whatever IT is) as cheap as possible and to reuse old designs as much as possible. Which means the new model is new on the outside but very dated underneath.

And your inside knowledge comes from where...........?

I don´t think, he has any knowledge at all !

North

Let's not forget that Ford Focus shares the platform with Mazda 3 which is reliability leader in Europe.

L

Hardly a comparison when the Ford focus on sale in Thailand is built in the Phillipines, hence possibly a reason for the reliability and recalls that occur. The Focus in Europe is an entirely differant beast, both dynamically and engine wise and maintains high reliability and customer satisfaction.

Built in the Philippines

I think it is more correct to say: assembled in the Philippines, most if not all parts come from Europe !

North

jackspratt: And your inside knowledge comes from where...........?

Where do you think! Back a few decades I wasted a few years of my life inside the organization.

But to be fair I would have to admit there is a similar mentality at all the mass produced car companies now.

Some just do it better than others!

PS: If your not a car guy buy a Toyota, they have turned mediocrity into an artform!

If you are a car guy....there is a lot of prime metal out there, if you can afford it.

Maybe Ford also think, that time was completely wasted

North

[bangkokrick]

Good post North and i am glad that you are having the same experience as i am.

Cheers, Rick

[Plus]

I don't think Philippino build Fords have any European parts - they wouldn't qualify for inter-Asean tax breaks without significant local content. That's the general idea, but I don't know the exact number. Something close to 80%, I guess.

[North]

I don't think Philippino build Fords have any European parts - they wouldn't qualify for inter-Asean tax breaks without significant local content. That's the general idea, but I don't know the exact number. Something close to 80%, I guess.

Plus, I know nothing about Asean tax breaks, but I do know, that most parts in the Focus comes from Europe. Ford ( or any other car manufacturer ) could not make a profit from manufacturing just a few cars in the Philippines, it is just not possible.

the diesel engine in my Focus is made in the Dagenham plant in London, and I have seen some labels on interior parts, telling the part is manufactured in Europe.

North

[madjbs]

I don't think Philippino build Fords have any European parts - they wouldn't qualify for inter-Asean tax breaks without significant local content. That's the general idea, but I don't know the exact number. Something close to 80%, I guess.

Plus, I know nothing about Asean tax breaks, but I do know, that most parts in the Focus comes from Europe. Ford ( or any other car manufacturer ) could not make a profit from manufacturing just a few cars in the Philippines, it is just not possible.

the diesel engine in my Focus is made in the Dagenham plant in London, and I have seen some labels on interior parts, telling the part is manufactured in Europe.

North

They make 25,000 cars a year for the domestic market and export to all ASEAN countries, South Africa and Taiwan. I am not sure about the diesel engines but the petrol ones are manufactured in the Philippines.

[rixalex]

the diesel engine in my Focus is made in the Dagenham plant in London, and I have seen some labels on interior parts, telling the part is manufactured in Europe.

North

So you didn't sell your Focus in the end?

[Gary A]

Since my Focus Ghia is a little less than two years old, the reliability is not yet totally proven. As far as workmanship and design, I am very happy with fit, finish and the accessories. The doors shut with a solid satisfying sound. My interior is leather. It looks and feels good to me. The body design looks sporty and I like it much better than the competition. The back seats are 60/40 and either will fold forward and allow me to carry even a ladder in a sedan. I could stretch out and sleep in the trunk. The handling is the best of any car I have ever owned. It is fun to drive. I really don't understand how people can make judgments about vehicles they have never owned. To say any particular brand of vehicle is absolutely no good indicates to me their ignorance and/or plain prejudice.

[North]

the diesel engine in my Focus is made in the Dagenham plant in London, and I have seen some labels on interior parts, telling the part is manufactured in Europe.

North

So you didn't sell your Focus in the end?

It is still for sale, if anyone is interested, just send me a PM !

(and I am not selling because I don´t like it, but because I am planning to relocate to Europe later this year or next year)

North

Since my Focus Ghia is a little less than two years old, the reliability is not yet totally proven. As far as workmanship and design, I am very happy with fit, finish and the accessories. The doors shut with a solid satisfying sound. My interior is leather. It looks and feels good to me. The body design looks sporty and I like it much better than the competition. The back seats are 60/40 and either will fold forward and allow me to carry even a ladder in a sedan. I could stretch out and sleep in the trunk. The handling is the best of any car I have ever owned. It is fun to drive. I really don't understand how people can make judgments about vehicles they have never owned. To say any particular brand of vehicle is absolutely no good indicates to me their ignorance and/or plain prejudice.

Good post, I agree with you !

North

[rixalex]

the diesel engine in my Focus is made in the Dagenham plant in London, and I have seen some labels on interior parts, telling the part is manufactured in Europe.

North

So you didn't sell your Focus in the end?

It is still for sale, if anyone is interested, just send me a PM !

OK. So how long is it you've been trying to sell it? Seems like ages ago you first put it on the market. My point is that however great the Focus might be, it's just not a good car to buy in Thailand, certainly not if resale means anything to you.